Press Release

Norman E. Borlaug International Agriculture Science and Technology Fellows Program Conference

May 20, 2008

On May 21, the U.S. Department of Agriculture will host the first conference in Macedonia of the Norman E. Borlaug International Agricultural Science and Technology Fellows Program. This program helps developing countries strengthen sustainable agricultural practices by providing short-term (four to eight weeks) scientific training and collaborative research opportunities to visiting researchers, policymakers and university faculty while they work with a mentor at U.S. universities and research institutions.

Eight Macedonian agricultural scientists and researchers were chosen to be Norman E. Borlaug Fellows and conducted research at U.S. universities during the past year, the first year Macedonia has participated in this prestigious program.

Gillian A. Milovanovic (large photo)

U.S. Ambassador Gillian Milovanovic will open the conference. During the conference, the Macedonian Borlaug Fellows will present the research they conducted in the U.S.

The Borlaug Fellowship Program was launched in March 2004 in honor of Dr. Norman E. Borlaug, who has often been hailed as the father of the Green Revolution. Dr. Borlaug won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1970 for his success in developing high-yielding wheat varieties and reversing severe food shortages that haunted India and Pakistan in the 1960's. Credited with saving millions of lives, his work virtually eliminated recurring famines in South Asia and helped global food production outpace population growth.

All media are invited to cover the opening of the conference on May 21 at 09:30 at the Holiday Inn. For more information please contact the Economic Section of the U.S. Embassy on tel.: 3116-180, ext. 2178.